I make these every year and people seem to enjoy them even they don't know the back story but it's more interesting if you do.

Soul cakes have a varied and widespread history in Western Europe. Traditionally, they were given to beggars (often neighbor children) in exchange for a prayer on behalf of the household dead. "One cake, one soul" was the motto among Catholic countries. The tradition persisted beyond the Reformation.

The idea was that the prayer made on All Souls (November 2) would free a soul from purgatory. The origins are lost in time but probably harken back to "sin eaters" among the pagans; those hardy folks too sensible or too desperate to care if the cake actually held the sins of the dear departed.

Sinful or not, these are tasty and seasonal tidbits.

There are zillion recipes for Soul Cakes but this one works very well: